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Vani V, Vasan SS, Adiga SK, Varsha SR, Seshagiri PB. Molecular regulators of human blastocyst development and hatching: Their significance in implantation and pregnancy outcome. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 89:e13635. [PMID: 36254379 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, blastocyst hatching and implantation events are two sequential, critically linked and rate-limiting events for a prospective pregnancy. These events are regulated by embryo-endometrium derived molecular factors which include hormones, growth factors, cytokines, immune-modulators, cell adhesion molecules and proteases. Due to poor viability of blastocysts, they fail to hatch and implant, leading to a low 'Live Birth Rates', majorly contributing to infertility. Here, embryo-derived biomarkers analysis plays a key role to assess potential biological viability of blastocysts which are capable of implantation and prospective pregnancy. Thus far, embryo-derived biomarkers examined are mostly immune-modulators which are thought to be associated with blastocyst development-implantation and progression of pregnancy, leading to live births. There is an urgent need to develop a quantitative and a reliable non-invasive approach aiding embryo selection for elective single embryo transfer and to minimize recurrent pregnancy loss and multiple pregnancies. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review on our current knowledge and understanding of potential embryo-derived molecular regulators, that is, biomarkers, of development of human blastocysts, their hatching and implantation. We discuss their potential implications in the assessment of blastocyst implantation potential and pregnancy outcome in terms of live births in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatappa Vani
- Indian Institute of Science, Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Sir C.V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Satish K Adiga
- Kasturba Medical College, Department of Clinical Embryology, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Polani B Seshagiri
- Indian Institute of Science, Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Sir C.V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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Yang G, Chen J, He Y, Luo H, Yuan H, Chen L, Huang L, Mao F, Hu S, Qian Y, Miao C, Feng R. Neddylation Inhibition Causes Impaired Mouse Embryo Quality and Blastocyst Hatching Failure Through Elevated Oxidative Stress and Reduced IL-1β. Front Immunol 2022; 13:925702. [PMID: 35860255 PMCID: PMC9289163 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.925702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian blastocyst hatching is an essential prerequisite for successful embryo implantation. As the rate-limiting step of current assisted reproductive technology, understanding the key factors regulating blastocyst hatching would be significantly helpful to improve the performance of the assisted reproductive practice. In early embryo development, the fine-tuned elimination of maternal materials and the balanced protein turnover are inevitable for the competent to hatch and implant into endometrium. Neddylation, a ubiquitination-like protein modification, has been shown to be involved in oocyte maturation and early embryo development. In this study, aiming to discover an unknown role of neddylation in the blastocyst hatching process, we provided functional evidence of neddylation in mammalian embryo quality and blastocyst hatching. Treatment with MLN4924, a specific neddylation inhibitor, lowered the embryo quality and dramatically reduced the hatching rate in mouse blastocysts. The transcriptional profile showed the upregulation of oxidative stress-related genes and aberrant expression of immune-related genes. The elevated oxidative stress was validated by qPCR and markers of apoptosis, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species, and cytoskeleton. Moreover, we found the secreted IL-1β level was reduced in an NF-κB-independent manner, leading to the final poor embryo quality and blastocyst hatching failure. This is the first report of neddylation being of great importance in the mammalian blastocyst hatching process. Further investigations uncovering more detailed molecular mechanisms of neddylation regulation in blastocyst hatching would greatly promote not only the understanding of this crucial biological process but also the clinical application in reproductive centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangping Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianhua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanni He
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongxia Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liangliang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingli Huang
- Reproductive Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fei Mao
- Reproductive Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Saifei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Qian
- Reproductive Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Congxiu Miao
- Department of Reproductive Genetics, Heping Hospital of Changzhi Medical College, Institute of Reproduction and Genetics of Changzhi Medical College, The Reproduction Engineer Key Laboratory of Shanxi Health Committee, Changzhi, China
| | - Ruizhi Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Reproductive Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Ruizhi Feng,
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Pathak M, Vani V, Seshagiri PB. Expression and function of interleukin-1β is required for hamster blastocyst hatching: Involvement of hatching-associated cathepsin proteases. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:274-286. [PMID: 33719101 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, the phenomenon of blastocyst hatching is an essential prerequisite for successful implantation. Blastocyst hatching is regulated by various molecules. Of them, cytokines, expressed by preimplantation embryos, are thought to be functionally important in blastocyst development and hatching, but their mechanistic roles are not clearly understood. Here, we examined the involvement of two cytokines, namely, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and its natural antagonist, IL-1ra, in blastocyst hatching in the golden hamster. Blastocysts expressed both cytokines and their receptor, IL-1rt1. Supplementation of IL-1β to cultured eight-cell embryos improved blastocyst hatching (84.1% ± 4.2% vs. 66.6% ± 6.8%; treated vs. control). This improvement was diminished by IL-1ra treatment (23.6% ± 12.9% vs. 76.4% ± 12.9%; treated vs. control). Interestingly, IL-1β-treated embryos showed increased messenger RNA expression of zonalytic proteases, that is, cathepsin-L and -B by 1.9 ± 0.5- and 3.5 ± 0.1-folds, respectively. This was accompanied by their increased enzyme activities; cathepsin-L by 2.8 ± 0.7 fold and -B by 2.3 ± 0.7-fold. Strikingly, proteases and IL-1β were intensely colocalized to trophectodermal projections of hatching blastocysts. This is the first report to show the involvement of embryonic IL-1β in regulating hatching-associated proteases required for blastocyst hatching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhulika Pathak
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development, and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Venkatappa Vani
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development, and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Polani B Seshagiri
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development, and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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Abstract
Development of preimplantation embryos, from fertilization to hatched-blastocyst stage, has been a challenging task, regardless of the mammalian species being studied. While the mouse model has been versatile for studying in vitro development of early embryos, other rodent species are important to gain insights into comparative early embryogenesis. The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) offers unique advantages to study cellular and molecular regulation of gamete maturation, fertilization and preimplantation development, including the phenomenon of blastocyst hatching. Achieving in vitro fertilization and first cleavage division is relatively easy; however, subsequent development past the two-/four-cell stage had been difficult in hamsters. Pioneering research, carried out over three decades has markedly enabled successful in vitro development of one-cell embryos to blastocysts. This article provides a comprehensive perspective (historical and current) on the embryo culture systems and details an optimized culture protocols to achieve normal and viable development of preimplantation embryos in the golden hamster.
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